Tuesday, September 8, 2009
2010 Chevrolet Impala
Auto Insurance Tips
When you really need it, you will be glad you took the time to purchase good car insurance. The purpose of the articles in this section is to prepare drivers with the right auto insurance policy before it is too late. Then, if trouble strikes, you and your family — and your family's finances — will be protected.
Everyone knows that car insurance can be expensive. However, in the Internet era, getting an online car insurance quote is fast and easy. With the resources and information we present here, it is easier than ever to compare auto insurance quotes. We will also tell you what differences exist between one auto insurance company and another. Basic coverage is described and comparative shopping strategies are clearly outlined. What about teenage drivers? We take a special look at shopping for car insurance for them. What if you have auto insurance but can't keep up with the expensive premiums? We might be able to show you how to continue getting the coverage you need while reducing your payments. And, finally, what about the mysterious type of insurance called "gap insurance"? This is a form of auto insurance that usually applies to leased cars. In some cases, however, a car buyer might also need gap insurance. We'll tell you when and how much to buy.
If you are on the fast track, and need car insurance now, we've boiled down all our information into the easy-to-read "10 Steps to Buying Auto Insurance." This series of short articles is followed by a checklist that will ensure that you won't overlook any important details as you get the best coverage available
Auto Insurance and Vehicle Accidents
There are more than six million car accidents each year in the United States. It is not as uncommon as you might think and you won't loose anything by preparing yourself a little for some bad luck. You can start with keeping a few things permanently in your car's dashboard like your insurance information, a pen, a notepad and a disposable camera.
No one expects a car accident; they are always sudden and happen really quickly. It's important to stay calm to handle the situation. It is easy to panic as an accident can be a very shaking experience. However there is always a need for someone to be calm and stay stable at such unfortunate events.
First you must give assistance to anyone who needs it, you much check if anyone is injured, and then call the emergency ambulance service (if required) and the police. .
Don't loose your temper; don't start blaming anyone at the scene and patiently wait for the police. Never discuss the accident with anyone till the police arrive. You must then give an accurate and fully detailed account of the events which lead to the accident to the policemen. You should see to it that your side of the story is properly heard.
Call your insurance agent as soon as you can and if possible from the scene of the accident itself. It would be of great help if you let the police officer do all the talking, who would most likely better explain everything to the insurance company.
You must gather as much information as possible about the accident. Making sketches of how it happened or even better; taking photographs can be really useful in claming your insurance. You must exchange personal details with the driver of the other vehicle, his name, his contact details, his address etc. You should never forget to take down his license plate number and more importantly, make a note of the type of vehicle and its vehicle identification number. This is important as some insurance company don't keep license plate numbers in their records.
Once you get back home and are all safe and sound. You must reread your insurance policy. You will find that it has three parts.
First there is the declaration which tells you the maximum amount payable by the insurance company. It also tells you of certain sub-features of your purchased policy like discounts etc.
The second part is your insurance agreement; this is what tells you the overall extent of your coverage, it tells you what your policy protects you against and what it excludes. It comes with a set of definitions for the different terms of the agreement. If for some reason, you fail to understand any part of the agreement you can call your insurance agent for clarification.
The third and the last of part of your policy are the conditions. These are basically a set of instructions which tells you what to do after an accident. They are simple to follow and are vital for keeping all your rights intact.
Top Insurance Company
Insurance Company is a financial company or institution which does the work of selling insurance policies of all types in order to hedge the risk of contingent future losses or damages or hazards.
These possible risks are not certain to take place in the future because future is uncertain. But a person cannot take a wait-and-see approach because it would subject them to sheer risk. If the casualty or damage or loss do happen then the person without any insurance would not get any compensation from the insurance company.
If a person buys an insurance against any future risk then in case of actual causation the insurance company would compensate for the resulting financial loss.
Issuance of insurance by an insurance company is not a free affair. Rather the policy holder of insurance is needed to pay a regular payment amount to the insurance company till its maturity. This amount is either repaid in entirety or in part to the insurance holder in case of occurrence of the hazard or casualty or loss. But it has been observed that many insurances are not claimed due to non-occurrence of the risk and thus the premiums paid by the policy holders become the profit of the insurance company.
Insurance companies offer insurances on the following categories :-
- Life Insurance
- Medical Insurance
- Non-life or General Insurance
Non life or general insurance issuing companies can again be classified under :-
- Standard Insurance Company
This type of insurance companies generally issue insurances against commercial and residential related risks, automobile related risks and the risks associated with businesses. These are mainly standardized policies with minimum scope of customization in accordance with personal needs of the customers. The characteristic features of this type of companies include lower rate of premium and direct sales to the customer approach. - Excess Insurance Company
This type of insurance company is involved in insuring the risks which are out of the fold of the Standard Insurance companies. These insurances are given to those persons who are not licensed insurers of the concerned state.
Monday, September 7, 2009
CAR iNSURANCe GUIDe
For residents of California, having a decent auto insurance policy is extremely important. The state is famous for its traffic jams and fast drivers, making insurance all the more crucial. If you’re interested in learning more about California’s auto insurance laws, check out this informative guide!
California Minimum Requirements
For most drivers, your main concern is meeting the state’s minimum insurance requirements. Compared to other states, California’s are reasonably low and your insurance coverage should reflect that. Here’s a look at the state’s requirements:
- $15,000 for injury or death to one person in a single accident
- $30,000 for injury or death to multiple people in a single accident
- $5,00 for property damage
What Happens if You’re Not Insured
Should you ever get into an accident or get caught driving without car insurance in California, you could face stiff penalties. In fact, compared to other states, California laws are particularly stringent on drivers who do not have auto insurance. Here’s a look at some of the penalties you could incur:
- Your vehicle’s registration may be suspended.
- You could receive a citation from a police officer with fines costing up to $1,000.
- Repeat offenders often have their vehicles impounded, in addition to other fines.
- Of course, if you’re found liable for an accident, you’ll be forced to pay for any damages and compensation to other drivers.
Alternative Options
Unlike some states, you are not literally required to have an auto insurance policy in California. If you choose not to have auto insurance, you must comply with a different option that the state offers. Unfortunately, these options are not very realistic for most people. One choice is to leave a $35,000 deposit with the Department of Motor Vehicles, which would go toward paying for an accident if you were found liable. Another option is to apply for a self insurance certificate from the DMV, although they are usually only approved for those with large amounts of savings or high incomes. In the case that you simply cannot afford to meet the minimum car insurance coverage requirements, you may able to apply for California’s Low Cost Automobile insurance program. This option is mainly for drivers who have a low income, although they must have a good driving record as well.
The Cost of California Car Insurance
With all of the terrible traffic and jam packed roads, you might expect California’s car insurance rates to be one of the tops in the nation. Despite this common perception, the state’s premiums are not incredibly high. While it is still ranked in the upper echelon of states at #16, it’s not nearly as bad as some people would have you believe, probably thanks to its fairly low minimum requirements. The average cost of an auto insurance policy with liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage is close to $850, which is very much in line with other western states.
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